Baked Apples with Ricotta, Cranberries, and an Oat Crust

Instructions

1. 1

   Prepare the apples

   Preheat the oven to 190 °C. Wash the apples and core them, leaving a layer of flesh about 1 cm thick at the bottom. Place them, openings facing up, in a small baking dish.

   
2. 2

   Mix the filling

   In a bowl, combine the ricotta, rolled oats, dried cranberries, honey, lemon juice, and cinnamon. Stir until the oats are evenly coated with ricotta and the mixture holds together.

   
3. 3

   Fill the apples

   Divide the filling among the prepared apples and gently press it down with a spoon. Place a quarter of the butter on each apple. Pour the water into the dish so it stays on the bottom and does not get into the filling.

   
4. 4

   Bake until tender

   Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes at 190 °C. Remove the foil and bake for another 12 to 15 minutes. The apples are ready when the tip of a knife slides easily into the side, but they still hold their shape.

   
5. 5

   Let them rest briefly

   Remove the dish from the oven and let the apples rest for 10 minutes. Serve warm with a little of the juice from the bottom of the dish; the filling will be firmer, and the lemon flavor will pleasantly balance the sweetness of the fruit.